The emergence of Gram-negative bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics, particularly carbapenem-resistant (CR) Acinetobacter strains, poses a significant threat globally. Despite efforts to develop new antimicrobial therapies, limited progress has been made, with only two drugs-cefiderocol and sulbactam-durlobactam-showing promise for CR-Acinetobacter infections. Cefiderocol, a siderophore cephalosporin, demonstrates promising efficacy in the treatment of Gram-negative infections. However, resistance to cefiderocol has been reported in A. baumannii. Combination therapies, such as cefiderocol with avibactam or sulbactam, show reduced MICs against cefiderocol-non-susceptible strains with in vivo efficacy, although the outcomes can be complex and species-specific. In the present work, the molecular characterization of spontaneous cefiderocol-resistant variants, a CRAB strain displaying antagonism with sulbactam and an A. lwoffii strain showing antagonism with avibactam, were studied. The results reveal intriguing insights into the underlying mechanisms, including mutations affecting efflux pumps, transcriptional regulators, and iron homeostasis genes. Moreover, gene expression analysis reveals significant alterations in outer membrane proteins, iron homeostasis, and β-lactamases, suggesting adaptive responses to selective pressure. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies and preventing adverse clinical outcomes. This study highlights the importance of preemptively assessing drug synergies to navigate the challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance in CR-Acinetobacter infections.
Keywords: Acinetobacter; NDM; antagonism; antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST); carbapenem-resistance; cefiderocol; diazabicyclooctanes (DBOs); synergy.